(Isaiah 52:7,8) “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy.”

The job of a watchman was very simple. They were to keep watch for looming danger. When they saw that danger approaching they were to shout or to blow the trumpet to warn the people of the imminent threat.

And today Isaiah tells you to, “Listen!” He tells you to listen because the watchmen are shouting. But this shouting is different. They are not shouting a warning but they are shouting for joy! Now, that’s different. Watchmen very rarely shouted for joy. The only time watchmen usually shouted for joy was when they saw their warriors coming back from war victorious.

And the watchmen in the above passage were shouting for joy because of the promise of a Savior who would save them from their sins and take them to be with Him forever in heaven. They were shouting for joy because they knew this Savior would win for them the war against the devil.

And we celebrated the birth of this Savior just a few days ago. That small baby lying in the manger is the one who has won the war for you and me. He is the one who has forgiven all of your sins, who gives you peace, who comforts your heart when it is troubled, and best of all gives to you salvation with him because of what he did for you on the cross.

And so today and every day we can be like the watchmen and shout for joy because the Savior has been born to us, and he is Christ the Lord!